Save the Date!
THE
Visionary Happiness is found in giving to others!
LanguageIn our last issue, we noted that The
AJCC‐UICC Ophthalmic Oncology
Task Force completed its work to
create an international language for
describing eye cancers. Since then, it
has become a required element for
eye cancer publication in 12 major
ophthalmic journals. Funded (in
part) by the ECF, this work ensures
that all future eye cancer research
can be directly comparable and
amenable to multivariate analysis.
We Fund Results ~ !The Eye Cancer Foundation Board voted to fund six
international fellowships in ophthalmic oncology. Young eye
cancer specialists came from all over the world for exposure
to new methods of eye cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Further each participated in or directed original research
projects. Within this Visionary, several are highlighted along
with the work they have published in major ophthalmic and
radiation therapy journals. You can sponsor next year’s
fellows, just call! (1‐212‐832‐7927)
ARVO May 1st‐5th, 2011
AAO ‐ OrlandoOct. 22nd‐25th, 2011
Dr. Finger presented
on micro incision iris
and orbital biopsy
(see Page 3).
ECF Lunch Call
Our ECF get together
in May 7th, 2011, was
successful
(see Page 4).
W I N T E R ‐ S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
ECF researchers
presented new
methods for diagnosis
and treatment.
THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER ‐ SPRING 2012
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Learning New Techniques
Doctors from all over the world (Left, Brazil
and India) come to watch and learn about eye
cancer diagnosis and treatment at The New
York Eye Cancer Center and related hospitals.
Eye Cancer Surgery
The operating room not only allows for patient
treatment, but is also a place to teach new surgical
techniques developed by Eye Cancer Foundation
researchers. Left, a resident surgeon operates on a
clinic patient. Below, observers from Thailand and
Jordan watch and ask questions.
World Ophthalmology
Dr. Petousis (Greece) published a ECF‐sponsored clinical
analysis of a large series of patients that underwent iris
biopsy utilizing a 25‐gauge aspiration cutter. He found
that all biopsies retrieved specimen and that
complications were less than those reported using fine‐
needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) technique.
Dr. Aurélien Freton (France) published a scientific
study on PET/CT imaging for metastatic choroidal
melanoma. Examining 333 patient scans at the time of
choroidal melanoma diagnosis. This work revealed
that almost all patients with metastasis had AJCC T3 or
T4 advanced melanomas at diagnosis and that 3% were
discovered to have previously unknown, non‐ocular
primary cancers.
THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER ‐ SPRING 2012
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ARVO 2011 Far right, Dr. Yousef (from Amman, Jordan)
performed an ECF sponsored Clinical Research
Fellowship. During that time he researched and
published on conjunctival squamous carcinoma,
conjunctival melanoma, radiation optic
neuropathy and plaque radiation therapy for iris
melanomas. He is going onto a second fellowship
in retinoblastoma with Brenda Gallie, MD.
In 2011, our fellows Drs. Freton, Graue, Kathil,
Newman, Petousis and others have worked hard
to produce and publish their works in the major
ophthalmic journals and return home to care for
eye cancer patients.
Micro‐Incision Biopsy Sometimes smaller is better.
Research sponsored by The Eye Cancer Foundation showed
that 21 to 25 gauge aspiration cutters can be used to biopsy
tumors around and behind the eye. Finger’s Aspiration
Biopsy Technique (FACT) was published in The European
Journal of Ophthalmology. The first cases were used to
diagnose metastatic prostate, uterine and lymphoma.
Dr. Finger noted that the probes have no sharp edges to
harm adjacent tissues and teaches that controlled
aspiration‐cutting is more effective than fine needle
aspiration biopsy (FNAB).
In May 2011, Ft. Lauderdale Florida hosted the
Association for Research in Vision and
Ophthalmology. From left to right, Drs. Kathil
(From Rajasthan, India) presented her work on
iris melanocytomas. During her fellowship, Dr.
Khatil wrote and later published 4 research
articles.
Middle, Dr. Finger standing with Dr. Freton from
Nice, France. During his ECF fellowship he
published unique findings discovered by optical
coherence tomography of choroidal osteomas
(intraocular bone tumors) and on PET/CT for the
diagnosis of metastatic choroidal melanoma.
THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER ‐ SPRING 2012
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News from The ECF The Spring ECF Lunch
Board members, patients and their friends met for
lunch to discuss how to improve our foundation and
for mutual support. Every year we expand our circle,
including patients treated all over the northeastern
USA. The Eye Cancer Network Bulletin also connects
patients from all over the world.
The Fellows Dinner at ARVO 2011
Here Doctors Petousis, Yousef, Graue, Finger, and
Freton pose for a photograph during the fellow’s
dinner with Dr. Tena (bottom right) at the Capital
Grill in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Annual Lecture Series The Eye Cancer Foundation sponsors an annual “eye
cancer” lecture series for the residents and fellows at
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York
University School of Medicine and ophthalmic board
review open to the programs in the Tri‐State area.
Multiple Myeloma and the Eye
In 2011, ECF researcher Kimberly Chin and co‐
workers published a case series and review of how
multiple myeloma can affect the eye, eyelids and
orbit. This work was published in the journal,
Optometry.
THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER ‐ SPRING 2012
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News from The ECF Group Efforts In 2011, an Eye Cancer Foundation sponsored
multicenter, international, internet‐based cooperative
study on Iris Melanoma was given special “Online First”
publication distinction by the Archives of
Ophthalmology. “This study reflects our mission to
enable eye cancer specialists to work together.”
Slotted Eye Plaques In 2005, a first ECF‐sponsored research publication in the British
Journal of Ophthalmology described a specially designed
radioactive eye plaques were created to reach around the optic
nerve. This technique offered the first method to completely
surround tumors that touched or encircled the optic nerve head. In
2011, ECF researchers have published a follow up paper. They
found all of the slotted eye plaque surgeries had been successful in
destroying these difficult to reach choroidal melanomas.
Tatyana Milman, MDExcellence in ophthalmic pathology is necessary for both
research and clinical care. At The New York Eye and Ear
Infirmary, Dr. Milman has contributed both in teaching our
fellows and excellence in clinical research. In 2011, her
work (sponsored in part by The Eye Cancer Foundation)
analyzing iris biopsy specimens was published in the
American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Frontiers for LucentisDrs. Chin and Finger have been participating in several
Genentech‐sponsored clinical trials using their drug,
Lucentis. One study, recently accepted for publication
describes its use for squamous carcinoma of the
conjunctiva. The inventors of Lucentis (left) are seen
immortalized in bronze.
THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER ‐ SPRING 2012
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2011 Eye Cancer Foundation Supported Research and Publication
1. Initial PET/CT staging for choroidal melanoma: AJCC correlation and second nonocular primaries in 333 patients.
Freton A, Chin KJ, Raut R, Tena LB, Kivelä T, Finger PT.
European Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Sep 23 [Epub ahead of print]
2. Minimally invasive anterior orbitotomy biopsy: Fingerʹs aspiration cutter technique (FACT).
Finger PT. European Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Sep 13 [Epub ahead of print]
3. Clinical and Pathologic Characteristics of Biopsy‐Proven Iris Melanoma: A Multicenter International Study.
Khan S, Finger PT, Yu GP, Razzaq L, Jager MJ, de Keizer RJ, Sandkull P, Seregard S, Gologorsky D, Schefler AC, Murray
TG, Kivelä T, Giuliari GP, McGowan H, Simpson ER, Corriveau C, Coupland SE, Damato BE.
Archives of Ophthalmology 2011 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print]
4. High‐frequency ultrasound measurements of the normal ciliary body and iris.
Garcia JP Jr, Spielberg L, Finger PT. Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers Imaging. 2011 Jul‐Aug;42(4):321‐7.
5. Anterior segment tumor aspiration cutter‐assisted biopsy: experience with pathology.
Milman T, Petousis V, McCormick SA, Finger PT. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Nov;152(5):776‐783.
6. Anterior segment tumor biopsy using an aspiration cutter technique: clinical experience.
Petousis V, Finger PT, Milman T. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Nov;152(5):771‐775.
7. Isolated Nocardia exalbida endogenous endophthalmitis. Milman T, Trubnik V, Shah M, McCormick SA, Finger PT.
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 2011 Aug;19(4):237‐9. Review.
8. Subfoveal choroidal melanoma: pretreatment characteristics and response to plaque radiation therapy.
Newman H, Chin KJ, Finger PT. Archives of Ophthalmology 2011 Jul;129(7):892‐8.
9. Characteristics of anterior uveal melanocytomas in 17 cases. Kathil P, Milman T, Finger PT.
Ophthalmology. 2011 Sep;118(9):1874‐80.
10. Spectral domain‐optical coherence tomography analysis of choroidal osteoma.
Freton A, Finger PT. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Apr 27. [Epub ahead of print]
11. Electron beam radiation for conjunctival squamous carcinoma. Graue GF, Tena LB, Finger PT.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2011 Jul‐Aug;27(4):277‐81.
12. Systemic bevacizumab (Avastin) for exudative retinal detachment secondary to choroidal melanoma. Newman H,
Finger PT, Chin KJ, Pavlick AC. European Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 Mar 23;21(6):796‐801.
13. Transpupillary Nd:YAG laser cystotomy for iris pigment epithelial cysts with secondary progressive angle closure.
Kathil P, Chin KJ, Ghaznawi N, Finger PT. Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging. 2011 Mar 24;42 Online:e40‐3.
14. Palladium‐103 eye plaque brachytherapy for primary adenocarcinoma of the ciliary body epithelium. Finger PT, Reid
JE, Iacob CE. Brachytherapy. 2011 Nov;10(6):503‐7.
15. Physiologic Positron Emission Tomography/CT Imaging of an Integrated Orbital Implant.
Graue GF, Finger PT. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2011 Mar 7. [Epub]
16. Comparison of dose calculation methods for brachytherapy of intraocular tumors.
Rivard MJ, Chiu‐Tsao ST, Finger PT, Meigooni AS, Melhus CS, Mourtada F, Napolitano ME, Rogers DW, Thomson RM,
Nath R. Medical Physics 2011 Jan;38(1):306‐16.
17. Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Bevacizumab for Radiation Optic Neuropathy: Secondary to Plaque
Radiotherapy. Finger PT, Chin KJ. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 2011 Jan 27. [Epub]
18. Multifocal iris melanoma treated with total anterior segment palladium‐103 plaque radiation therapy. Petousis V,
Finger PT, Milman T. Graefes Archive of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2011 Jun;249(6):937‐40.
19. Intravitreal anti‐VEGF bevacizumab (Avastin) for external beam related radiation retinopathy.
Finger PT, Mukkamala SK. European Journal Ophthalmology 2011 Jan 3 [Epub]
20. Ocular manifestations of multiple myeloma: three cases and a review of the literature.
Chin KJ, Kempin S, Milman T, Finger PT. Optometry. 2011 Apr;82(4):224‐30.
21. Risk factors for cataract after palladium‐103 ophthalmic plaque radiation therapy.
Finger PT, Chin KJ, Yu GP, Patel NS; Palladium‐103 for Choroidal Melanoma Study Group.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 2011 Jul 1;80(3):800‐6.
The ECF is For YouThe Eye Cancer Foundation was created to promote
multicenter, international cooperation for eye cancer care
teaching and research. The ECF is nimble, productive and
charitable. We support education (patient and physician) and
research. We support physicians from around the world. In
2011 we have 21 ECF sponsored research publications. Want
results? We are working on it! – Paul T. Finger, MD
With life, there is hope!
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THE EYE CANCER FOUNDATION WINTER 2012